The Next Step In Research

Traditional Research
For the past 20 years traditional radio research has remained essentially unchanged. A very limited number of records tested and retested over and over again, that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy of about 300 songs. Sadly most radio stations have been playing primarily the same 300 songs year after year, and are extremely vulnerable because they have burned out their core library. 

Tracking Listening Patterns
People listen to approximately 3 stations a week. The primary reason they do is because they crave more than the same 300 songs played over and over again. Listeners are forced to get more variety by increasing the number of radio stations they listen to weekly.

A New Way Of Thinking
Realizing the inherent problems with traditional music format testing, and the predictable results of narrow playlists, The ComStar Network has pioneered the next step in research. We call it Full Spectrum Research, and it's a revolutionary new way of testing music.  Incorporating duplication analysis, multiformat music testing, and listener's natural listening patterns, we simply track listener’s music tastes, where they go, and why. Any format that can eliminate "why" listeners leave has a tremendous advantage in the ratings. We can't give out all the secrets about ComStar's new proprietary research system, but it's designed to generate a wide, safe, mass appeal playlist, and does not "narrowcast" a station into a small niche format like traditional research. 

It's Just A Numbers Game
One of the secrets to Full Spectrum Research is how it's engineered to study the total picture. Unlike traditional research, which is format specific, and narrow, Full Spectrum Research tests records on multiple formats. All things being equal, a record that does well on three formats is far more mass appeal and is more powerful than a record that does well on one format. This is critical information to have when your average listener listens to three radio stations. The ALLHITSFM format is designed to steal listeners by building "bridges" to other formats by playing the right mass appeal records. Like any great idea, once explained, it's simple to understand.   

ALLHITSFM Is Powered By Full Spectrum Research
The benefits become apparent. Burnout has been drastically reduced. Most songs are favorites in several format audiences simultaneously. The format has significantly slower repeat factors than any other radio station. Every record is familiar. Most of the music we play is fresh. It has been rested for a while and hasn’t been overplayed. ALLHITSFM simply takes the variety position away from other stations in the market.